Pre-Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a health profession whose purpose is to promote optimal health and function through the application of scientific principles to prevent, identify, assess, correct or alleviate acute or prolonged movement dysfunction.

Physical therapists are an integral part of the health-care team, working in conjunction with physicians and other health-care professionals.  As a physical therapist, you will work to improve the mobility, relieve the pain and prevent or limit the permanent disability of patients suffering from injuries or disease.  You also may work to keep people well and safe from injury by teaching people the importance of fitness and showing them how to avoid injury at work or play.

Although a large number of physical therapist work in hospitals, more than 60 percent of them can be found in private physical therapy offices, community health centers, corporate or industrial health centers, sport facilities, research institutions, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home health agencies, schools, pediatric centers, and colleges and universities.

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University offer's a pre-professional program in physical therapy.  Students at CSB and SJU complete prerequisite coursework as outlined by the various approved schools of physical therapy.  Upon completion of the pre-professional coursework, the student is eligible to apply to colleges and universities offering a degree in physical therapy. Since each physical therapy program may differ in the prerequisite courses, students should work closely with the CSB/SJU pre-physical therapy advisor.

In addition to coursework students are required to engage in related service clinical work.  Physical therapy programs will require students to have significant contact with patients in a therapy setting before they begin the application process. The College of Saint Benedict and St. John's University offer several opportunities for interested students to gain hands on experience in the Sports Medicine Program and through internship opportunities at Saint Cloud Orthopedic Associates Sports Center and H.E.A.T (High Energy Acceleration Training) Program. In addition to these opportunities there are many other observation opportunities at the many physical therapy facilities in the St. Cloud and surrounding area.

Program highlights at CSB/SJU:

• In the class of 2005, nine of nine CSB/SJU students who applied to physical therapy school were accepted into the program of their choice.
• St. Catherine's Physical Therapy program saves one position in their program yearly for qualified CSB/SJU pre-physical therapy students.
• CSB/SJU Sports Medicine minor allows students to gain hands on experience for those students pursuing a degree in physical therapy
• The science program and facilities are state of the art.
• Peterson’s Top Colleges for Science lists our science and math programs among the best in the nation.

Minnesota schools that offer post-graduate degrees in physical therapy:

• University of Minnesota
• College of Saint Catherine
• College of Saint Scholastica
• Mayo School of Health Related Sciences

Other PT accredited programs:

• CAPTE Accredited Physical Therapist Education Programs

When should a student apply to Physical Therapy school?

The fall of the student's senior year is most common. However, each institution has a different timeline for application process.

Physical Therapist Education

Physical therapists attain their knowledge and skills through extensive academic and clinical education.  To enter the profession, physical therapists must have completed at least four years of college, graduated from an accredited professional education program, and secured a license by successfully completing a state licensure examination. All professional education programs include coursework in foundational science, theory, and practice of physical therapy, and patient and client management. The curriculum includes opportunities to apply and integrate theory through extensive clinical education in a variety of practice settings.  Most Physical Therapists now enter the profession with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (DPT). 

Advisors for Pre-Physical Therapy

Students pursuing courses for the pre-professional pre-physical therapy program should contact to pre-physical therapy advisors as soon as they make their decision to do so.

Pre-Physical Therapy Advisor:

Don Fischer  363-5581
dfischer@csbsju.edu